Court Rules Tribal Inheritance Practice Illegal For Women

Islamabad: A court in Pakistan has declared a tribal customary practice that denied women inheritance rights illegal, delivering a judgement that reinforces women’s legal entitlement to share in ancestral property.

According to the ruling, the court stated that tribal customs that exclude women from lawful inheritance are inconsistent with the country’s legal framework, and such practices must end. The decision was welcomed by rights advocates who have long argued that discriminatory customs harm women’s economic security.

Judges emphasized that inheritance laws apply equally to all heirs regardless of gender, and social or tribal traditions cannot override statutory rights provided under law. The ruling aims to ensure that women in tribal and rural areas receive their lawful share of inheritance along with male siblings when a family property is divided.

Legal experts said the judgement could have broad implications for inheritance rights across communities that historically followed traditional norms favoring male heirs. The court also noted that enforcement of legal inheritance rights should be taken seriously and steps should be taken to educate local populations about women’s entitlements.

Activists hailed the decision as a significant step toward gender equality and legal protection for women’s property rights, calling on implementation at the local level so that women can claim inheritance without fear of resistance or retaliation.

Source: ARY News